Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo (KyD)

 

​The Scheme is implemented in terms of the Animal Improvement Act (Act 62 of 1998) and it is a special purpose vehicle that was designed to facilitate the participation of smallholder farmers in the mainstream livestock industries. 

Participation in the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo Scheme qualifies the participants to receive science-supported services that include information dissemination and technology transfer sessions about various livestock farming topics, ranging from basic animal husbandry practices, animal health, veld condition assessment, record keeping, market access, etc., to enhance the capacity of farmers​.​

ADVANTAGES OF THE SCHEME​

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• ​Selection aid  
  Objective measure to identify desirable and undesirable animals. 

• ​Management aid  
  Enables the farmer to evaluate his management practices and make adjustments when and where necessary.

• ​Broadening the Farmer's knowledge  
  Through record keeping and studying of the processed data, the famer knowledge of his herd and breed is broadened.
  
  
• ​Product specifications 
  Prospective buyers will be keen to pay more for an animal with complete and accurate information available, which is performance tested animals.

• Achieving Continuous Improvement
  Participants will learn to integrate existing stocks of technology and knowledge in cattle farming to achieve continuous improvement in their farming.

SOLUTIONS

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• We provide a comprehensive suite of animal health and production service.

• ​Eligibility and Participation​.

• Any emerging/smallholder cattle farmer can participate in the scheme and it is operational in all nine provinces. We encourage farmers with other livestock to participate.

• We partner with you to determine your needs and action.

• We collect animal performance information.​

• We use scientific methods to select animals and help you grow your enterprise.

• We offer advice on livestock marketing.

HOW TO BECOME A PARTICIPANT

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• Contact your extension officer or KyD technician in your province.

• Complete the farmer registration form to get a membership number in the national recording database.

• You will be able to register all your animals on the database keep record.

• Send new records as animals give ​birth.

• The extension officer and KyD technicians will help you to weigh your animals at birth, weaning, 12 and 18 months.

• The records will be analyse to assist you compare your animals.

• Use the results to make selection and culling decisions.

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Figure 5: Ms Manake prepares to weigh animals at Slangriver, Western Cape, 13/02/2025​

Figure 7: Dr JZ Phoku demonstrating different species of poisonous plants at Draaikraal, Mpumalanga, 12/06/25

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​NORTHERN CAPE ​ ​

​EASTERN CAPE

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